Beyond Charity

Summary

The community of Portchester, UK, is showing an exceptional response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, with an outpouring of donations and offers to open homes.

Abstract

The article describes the extraordinary response of the Portchester community to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The community has gone beyond normal charity, with people stitching Ukrainian flags, donating goods, and offering their homes to refugees. The response has been so overwhelming that further collections have been called off. The article highlights the willingness of the community to open their homes, despite bureaucratic hurdles, and the opportunity for local children to learn about the wider European family. The author also reflects on the need for global cooperation to address mass displacements due to wars and climate disasters.

Opinions

The response of the Portchester community is beyond normal charity, with people going out of their way to help Ukrainian refugees.
The community's willingness to open their homes is commendable, despite the bureaucratic challenges.
The author believes that the current crisis is a timely reminder for everyone to stop abusing life and live in harmony with their neighbors.
The author also suggests that mass displacements will continue due to wars and climate disasters, emphasizing the need for global cooperation.

Beyond Charity

A community that cares

Ukrainian flag flies above Hospital Lane, Portchester UK (source: Author)

This is beyond normal charity — reaching way beyond everyday giving, loose change in the Christian Aid envelope, purchasing poppies, red noses or some annual flag day. There is a far deeper response here.

First, you’ll notice the flags. Few of us have a handy set of country flags ready to unfurl at a moment’s notice. But Ukraine’s is easy to stitch even if the sewing machine has not been used for years. Flag waving around here is normally reserved for St George, English football teams, or funerals with maritime Defence overtones. Centuries of naval service is evidenced by a fair few flagpoles around Portchester.

Then there’s noticeable noise in the normally hushed tones of the library. Countless people not taking out books but bringing in their contributions for refugees. The response was not just overwhelming for the library. The hub at Jacob’s Well charity has been inundated to the extent that further collections have been called off. The lorry loads now well on their way to Poland and Moldova will be sure to bring a smile to beleaguered mothers on their altogether uncalled for journeys into the unknown. Who would have guessed that Portchester people could contribute so much paracetamol and pasta, sleeping bags, blankets, beans, knickers and nappies — the list goes on.

And then there’s the willingness to open homes — even if the Home Office seem unable to open their hearts. It’ll be a minor miracle if any of these displaced Ukrainian souls finally arrive in Portchester at the end of the paperwork trail — but if/when they triumph, they’ll be more than welcome, and our local children will have a great opportunity to learn afresh how brilliant it is to be part of the wider European family.

Mass displacements on account of Russia’s devastating tantrums will be repeated over and again — if not on account of wars, then certainly from climate disasters. The current crisis is another timely reminder that we must all learn to stop abusing life and live in harmony with our neighbours.

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This article was first published by Portchester Liberal Democrats as Bruno’s Blog. It is included on the Groupe Intellex list for ‘Portchester — the place I call home’.